Jim Goulart

New Jersey (independent Can-Am League) traded C Jason Belcher (Brewers' property 2000-2004) to Fargo-Moorhead (Northern League). I often wonder how much say (or approval) independent league players have over trades. They're traded across leagues (and in this case, cross-country) on contracts that are for very short money. Kansas City (the independent Northern League T-Bones, not the Royals) signed RHP Kenny Durost (Brewers 2003-2005) to a 2007 contract.

Tuesday's Games vs. the Padres Organization (plus Helena/Arizona Rookie, which played a team of Canadian kids): Nashville loses, 9-6 R H E Portland 9 15 0 Nashville 6 10 1 NASHVILLE AB R H BI Moss 4 2 3 1 Rodriguez 2 0 1 2 Miller 3 0 0 0 Phillips 1 0 0 0 Davenport 3 2 2 0 Wycklendt 0 0 0 0 Abad 4 0 1 1 Eure 4 0 0 0 Barnwell 4 0 1 1 Crabbe 2 1 1 0 Suppan 0 0 0 0 Ezi 3 1 1 1 2B: Davenport 3B: Moss, Ezi IP H R ER BB SO TP Suppan 5 5 2 2 1 3 84 Parra 1.1 4 4 4 1 3 40 Salas 1 4 2 2 1 2 36 Stetter 0.2 0 0 0 0 2 11 Stanczyk 1 2 1 1 0 2 16Huntsville wins, 7-3 R H E San Antonio 3 5 1 Huntsville 7 12 0 HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI Stocker 4 1 1 0 Escobar 4 1 2 1 Barba 1 0 1 1 Heether 2 0 0 0 De La Cruz 1 0 0 0 Katin 3 2 1 3 Carlin 5 0 0 0 Huggins 5 0 1 0 Sollmann 2 2 2 1 Bernal 1 0 0 0 Corporan 3 0 2 1 Bouchie 1 1 1 0 Yoho 2 0 1 0 2B: Huggins HR: Katin IP H R ER BB SO TP Pettyjohn 3 2 1 1 1 2 45 Yeatman 2.1 1 2 2 3 3 51 Hinton 1.2 0 0 0 1 2 26 Housman 1 1 0 0 1 1 16 Lewis 1 1 0 0 0 1 12 Brevard holds on, 9-8 R H E Brevard County 9 9 1 Lake Elsinore 8 7 4 BREVARD CO AB R H BI Mojica 4 3 2 1 Crew 3 0 1 1 Bell 2 1 1 2 Gamel 2 0 1 0 Errecart 2 0 0 0 Gillespie 3 0 0 0 Parejo 2 2 2 1 Fermaint 4 1 1 0 Hopf 3 0 0 0 De La Rosa 2 0 1 1 Yost 5 1 0 0 Clem 2 1 0 0 Metcalf 4 0 0 0 2B: Crew, Mojica 2 HR: Parejo, Bell IP H R ER BB SO TP Welch 3 1 2 2 1 4 45 Ryan 1.1 1 2 2 3 2 46 Palazzolo 2.1 3 2 2 2 1 40 Roberts 2 2 2 2 3 1 38West Virginia ties, 8-8 R H E West Virginia 8 13 3 Fort Wayne 8 13 0 WEST VIRGINIA AB R H BI Ford 5 1 1 0 Brewer 4 1 1 2 Caufield 4 1 3 0 Alonso 4 1 2 2 Newton 3 0 1 1 Snijders 3 2 2 1 Neyens 1 0 0 0 Goetz 4 0 1 1 Hereaud 3 0 1 0 Green 4 1 1 0 Miller 3 1 0 0 2B: Caufield, Goetz, Hereaud IP H R ER BB SO TP Ramirez 2 5 4 2 1 0 49 Kjeldgaard 3 4 1 1 0 1 36 King 1 0 0 0 0 1 13 Romero 0.2 1 2 2 2 1 26 Toneguzzi 0.2 2 1 1 0 1 17 Aguilar 1.2 1 0 0 0 1 28Helena falls, 11-10 R H E Canada 11 10 1 Brewers 10 13 1 BREWERS AB R H BI Iacono 4 0 2 0 Sanchez 4 0 1 0 Chapman 4 2 2 1 Richardson 3 0 2 0 Dubose 2 1 0 1 McAngus 2 2 1 1 Trejo 3 2 2 1 Whiteside 1 1 0 0 Requena 2 1 1 2 Cequea 3 0 0 1 Felix 2 1 2 1 2B: Richardson, Trejo 3B: McAngus IP H R ER BB SO TP Pascual 2 2 0 0 0 1 28 Salinas 2 5 7 7 4 0 34 Cruz 2 3 4 4 3 0 33Note -- You'll see some Latin last names on the Helena rookie squad that aren't in our Brewerfan Player Index as of yet. I'll be taking the info from the Brewers' media guide and making use of it for these new youngsters in the next couple of days, and will summarize the additions for you in a separate post. There was no point in adding them earlier in the offseason without pertinent bio info, even though we had most of the names.

The Nashville and Huntsville sites with their ususal solid recaps of their squad's respective games. Review these for now, the daily linescores will be up shortly: Nashville: www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2218 Huntsville: www.huntsvillestars.com/n...ewsId=1080

Minor league deals: RHP Nelson Figueroa (Mariners), C Jeff Winchester (Phillies)

Monday's Games vs. the Padres Organization (plus Helena/Arizona Rookie, which played a team of Canadian kids): Details on the Sounds game from the Nashville site: www.nashvillesounds.com/n...ewsId=2215 Nashville ties, 6-6 R H E Nashville 6 9 1 Portland 6 8 1 NASHVILLE AB R H BI Ezi 5 0 1 1 Rodriguez 5 2 1 1 Davenport 5 0 1 1 Nelson 3 0 1 1 Phillips 1 1 0 0 Meadows 4 0 0 0 Miller 2 0 0 0 Palmisano 1 0 1 1 Perez 4 0 1 0 Barnwell 2 1 1 0 Eure 0 0 0 0 Capuano 0 0 0 0 Kuzmic 4 2 2 0 2B: Palmisano IP H R ER BB SO TP Capuano 4 4 3 3 3 4 76 Bray 1.2 3 1 1 1 1 40 Zumwalt 1.1 1 2 2 1 3 24 Simpson 2 0 0 0 1 1 24 Huntsville rolls, 15-5 R H E Huntsville 15 21 2 San Antonio 5 13 1 HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI Stocker 6 1 3 2 Escobar 4 0 1 0 Barba 2 1 1 2 Heether 3 1 0 0 De La Cruz 2 0 0 0 Katin 4 2 2 0 Goetz 2 0 0 0 Carlin 5 1 2 1 Huggins 5 3 3 3 Sollmann 6 4 5 1 Bouchie 3 1 2 1 Maldonado 2 1 1 1 Yoho 4 0 1 4 2B: Huggins 2, Sollmann, Katin, Carlin, Yoho, Bouchie 3B: Stocker HR: Huggins, Barba IP H R ER BB SO TP Jones 2 3 1 1 1 0 27 Inman 2.2 3 1 1 1 2 51 Villarreal 1.1 0 0 0 0 2 14 Hall 1 1 0 0 1 2 26 Perkins 0.1 2 1 1 1 0 24 Pena 0.2 1 0 0 1 0 17 Johnson 1 3 2 2 1 0 14 Brevard wins, 10-4 R H E Lake Elsinore 4 9 3 Brevard County 10 13 1 BREVARD CO AB R H BI Fermaint 2 1 1 0 Parejo 1 0 0 0 Bell 4 1 3 4 Cain 3 1 0 0 Clem 1 0 0 0 Gamel 3 2 3 4 Metcalf 2 0 1 0 Gillespie 5 0 1 0 Errecart 3 0 0 0 Yost 2 0 0 0 Richardson 4 1 1 0 Swaydan 2 0 0 0 Hopf 1 2 1 1 Mojica 3 2 2 0 De La Rosa 1 0 0 0 2B: Richardson, Bell 3B: Gamel HR: Gamel IP H R ER BB SO TP Wright 2.1 2 2 2 2 2 49 Wahpepah 2.2 1 1 1 0 1 45 Pawelczyk 2 3 0 0 1 1 38 Wendte 2 3 1 1 0 1 41West Virginia romps, 10-2 R H E Fort Wayne 2 8 0 West Virginia 10 11 3 WEST VIRGINIA AB R H BI Ford 3 1 2 1 Brantley 3 0 2 3 Brewer 4 0 0 0 Lefave 3 1 1 0 Newton 2 0 0 0 Holmberg 2 1 0 1 Chapman 4 2 2 1 McAngus 2 1 1 2 Whiteside 2 1 1 0 Neyens 2 1 1 1 McKnight 3 2 1 0 2B: Whiteside, Ford, Chapman 3B: Lefave, Chapman, McAngus IP H R ER BB SO TP Mercedes 3 2 0 0 1 1 43 Anundsen 3 3 1 1 0 0 32 Garcia 1 2 1 1 0 0 19 Logan 1 1 0 0 0 0 15 Langille 1 0 0 0 0 1 10Helena prevails, 7-4 R H E Canada 4 5 2 Brewers 7 12 0 BREWERS AB R H BI Iacono 3 1 1 1 Sanchez 5 2 3 0 Alonso 4 2 2 2 Caufield 4 1 2 1 Trejo 3 1 2 1 Snijders 3 0 1 1 Miller 2 0 0 0 Hereaud 2 1 1 2 Felix 2 0 0 0 2B: Alonso, Caufield, Trejo, Snijders, Hereaud 3B: Alonso IP H R ER BB SO TP Chaya 1.2 3 3 3 4 1 47 De Leon 2.1 0 0 0 1 3 30 Manzanillo 2 1 1 1 4 1 37 Lambertus 1.2 1 0 0 0 1 34Notes -- Steve Sollman 5-for-6; Mat Gamel and Mike Bell with big games; nice to see Carlos Hereaud's name -- the 2005 9th round pick is yet to make his pro debut after two seasons of various work visa issues.

The Brewers have signed RHP Devin Rogers as a minor league free agent. Drafted in the 8th round out of Nicholls State University (Louisiana) in 1999 by the Cleveland Indians -- actually the same year and round as Chris Capuano, Justin Lehr, and former Brewer David Pember -- Rogers hasn't pitched professionally since 2001, amazing. Having signed for $76,000, Rogers struck out 83 in 89.2 innings for Columbus in 2000. Then -- right shoulder surgery Sept 2000, UCL sprain in right elbow July 2001, Tommy John surgery May 2002. Yikes. The Brewers signed him during an open workout this winter, apparently with some impressive radar readings. We believe he's now 28 years old. Devin Rogers Career Statistics: www.thebaseballcube.com/p...gers.shtml This would be a great story and a super "scout find" if it works out.

Editorial from the Tennessean on Monday: www.tennessean.com/apps/p.../703190332 Time to do the Sounds deal or move on By GAIL KERR Enough is enough. If the Nashville Sounds and their development partner, Struever Bros. Eccles & Rouse, really want to turn the old downtown thermal plant land into a new stadium and condo complex, they need to stop with the double speak and tell the city, taxpayers, mayor, Metro Council and baseball fans what the holdup is. And they need to do it this week. We want answers. And we want them now. Why, after a year and missed deadlines, isn't this deal done? Their usual answer ? it's complicated ? isn't good enough. Now the two sides are coming back to the city and asking for yet another extension because they aren't going to make the April 16 deadline ? a day they said was do or die for the deal. Metro Finance Director David Manning gave that idea a chilly reception. City officials are crying foul, as well they should. It's a fine piece of waterfront property we're going to let these folks use. The new baseball stadium is the one large piece of downtown's changing face that has lingered in limbo longer than an overdue pregnant woman. Trust among all involved has taken a lengthy vacation. Questions abound The Metro Council's Budget and Finance Committee has called a special meeting for 3:30 p.m. Wednesday and have told the Sounds they want some real answers to some good questions. Among them: Why are they now coming back to the table wanting yet another extension? What mistakes have been made, and have they fixed the problems? Is this thing on life support? Are banks balking? Can they not get the money together? Are the Sounds trying to get rid of their partner? Is the deal realistically salvageable? And does Sounds owner Al Gordon really want this thing to be built? Gordon has been so notably absent through most every step of this process. He's come to town a couple of times, and he met a couple of weeks ago with the developers. But he hasn't stopped by the council chamber or the mayor's office to explain the delays. Even Bud Adams, when he came knocking with the Houston Oilers, worked the room and said please and thank you. The other big problem facing the Sounds deal is a little thing called the Metro election. More than half the Metro Council will be running for re-election or some other local office this summer. Deals for ball teams, even ones like this that cost no direct city tax dollars, are not politically popular on the campaign trail. These candidates want a real explanation they can share for voters of why the Sounds project wants yet another extension. There is no 10th inning on this one. This is the week where we buy into the Sounds deal or we don't. Or it's one, two, three strikes. You're out. ***Now it looks like there is a proposal to extend financing until October 31st -- who knows if that still allows for an Opening Day 2009 debut? Struever has filed draft legislation with Metro to allow it and the Sounds until Oct. 31 of this year to complete financing and design work for the ballpark, and they hope to reach an accord regarding a revised financing structure for the project by Wednesday. www.nashvillecitypaper.co...s_id=55235

Link for photo while active, text follows: www.floridatoday.com/apps...002/SPORTS Barnes makes rare pitch with Royals Merritt Island High star switches from slugger to hurler BY HILLARD GROSSMAN FLORIDA TODAY They say Justin Barnes' first word out of his mouth was "ball." His next words could be "major leagues." The 6-foot-3, 220-pound relief pitcher, once a home-run threat at Merritt Island High and at Manatee Community College in Bradenton, has been training at the Kansas City Royals' spring camp in Surprise, Ariz. "I have no idea where they'll send me from here," he said. Last season, his first in the Royals' organization since being traded by the Milwaukee Brewers, he pitched for the High Desert Mavericks, a high Class A team that reached the California League playoffs. He posted a 5-3 record with a 4.19 ERA as a middle reliever for pitching coach Steve Renko, a former Montreal Expos ace. Maybe hitting coach Boots Day should have taken a closer look at how he handles a bat. At Manatee, Barnes not only was a closer but also played shortstop and still holds the school's single-season home-run record (17). "I live through my home run record," he said, laughing. In high school, he also swung a big bat for coach Chuck Goldfarb's Mustangs, a team that included current minor leaguers Kevin Deaton and Jeff Howell, a catcher in the Royals' organization. In 2000, Barnes played on the state championship team. He's now 24 and lives in Jacksonville with his girlfriend, Angela Widener, a former volleyball player at Palm Bay. "Is she a baseball fan?" Barnes said. "I'm not sure. But she is a Justin Barnes fan." His minor-league experience has been a balancing act between positives and negatives. He started as a third baseman for a rookie-league team in Helena (Mont.) and batted .241 with five homers and 34 RBIs in 195 at-bats. Perhaps realizing he likely could make the jump quicker to the major leagues, he became a pitcher the following year and struck out 55 batters and walked just nine in 40 2/3 innings. Suddenly, he found his other niche, sort of how Boston knuckleball pitcher Tim Wakefield did after he had set the home-run record at Florida Tech. The next season, pitching for the West Virginia Power, a Class A team, Barnes moved to the bullpen and was virtually unhittable, going 9-2 with a 3.18 ERA while striking out 76 in 79 1/3 innings. It was enough for Kansas City to come calling. The Royals traded 25-year-old pitching prospect Chris Demaria, who already had major-league experience, in exchange for Barnes. In the Brewers' farm system, he played with standouts such as Ty Taubenheim, Carlos Villanueva and even Prince Fielder, a former star at Eau Gallie High and Florida Air Academy. Now, with the Royals, he has a chance to play with Mike Sweeney, Reggie Sanders, Gil Meche and Odalis Perez. "I've gotten the opportunity to play in three different leagues, in 22 states and in 33 cities, so I've seen a good bit of the country," Barnes said. "But it's not the greatest life in the world, because it is a bit of a grind, and you don't make the kind of money you'd hoped for. It's not the drinking and the smoking and all that stuff you see in the movies, but the bus rides are real. Some are 11 hours long and sometimes the buses break down or the AC goes out. "That, among other things, make it tough. I know one thing, those peanut butter and jelly sandwiches after batting practice are getting old." Soon, perhaps, his next words will be, "Oh, waiter!"

Adam McCalvy of MLB.com: Lefty Chris Capuano, who is 0-1 with a 13.50 ERA in three Cactus League starts, pitched in a Minor League game on Monday with so-so results. He was charged with three runs, all earned, on four hits, three walks and a hit batsman in four innings against San Diego's Triple-A club in Peoria. Capuano struck out four and threw 76 total pitches. ... Catcher Damian Miller, working back from a calf strain, caught Capuano's outing and will catch Jeff Suppan in a Minor League game on Tuesday. Suppan has to pitch to stay on schedule for the start of the season.

Sunday's Games vs. the Mariners Organization: Nashville loses, 14-6 R H E Nashville 6 11 3 Tacoma 14 22 1 NASHVILLE AB R H BI Moss 5 2 2 0 Kuzmic 3 0 0 0 Phillips 1 0 1 0 Davenport 3 1 2 3 Wycklendt 2 0 0 0 Nelson 4 1 0 0 Meadows 1 1 0 0 Ezi 1 1 1 0 Abad 4 0 0 0 Eure 4 0 3 2 Perez 3 0 1 0 Rodriguez 1 0 1 1 Crabbe 4 0 0 0 2B: Moss, Davenport, Ezi, Eure 2 HR: Davenport IP H R ER BB SO TP Dillard 4 10 8 7 0 3 60 Dickey 2 12 6 6 0 1 54 Demaria 1 0 0 0 1 0 19Huntsville loses, 2-1 R H E Huntsville 1 6 2 West Tenn 2 7 0 HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI Stocker 3 0 0 0 Escobar 3 0 1 0 Barba 1 0 0 0 Heether 3 0 0 0 De La Cruz 1 0 0 0 Katin 3 0 0 0 Goetz 1 0 1 0 Carlin 4 1 1 0 Huggins 4 0 2 0 Sollmann 0 0 0 1 Bernal 2 0 0 0 Maldonado 2 0 1 0 Corporan 1 0 0 0 Iacono 2 0 0 0 Yoho 1 0 0 0 2B: Carlin, Goetz, Huggins IP H R ER BB SO TP Hammond 3 3 1 1 1 2 37 Harper 2 0 0 0 1 2 30 Stanczyk 1 0 0 0 1 1 17 Hinton 1 1 0 0 0 1 13 Lewis 1 0 0 0 0 0 9 Rogers, D 1 3 1 1 0 0 21Brevard wins, 8-7 R H E High Desert 7 6 0 Brevard County 8 11 0 BREVARD CO AB R H BI Fermaint 3 2 2 0 Bell 3 0 0 0 Crew 2 0 1 0 Cain 3 1 2 1 Parejo 1 0 0 0 Gamel 3 1 0 0 Gillespie 3 1 1 1 Clem 1 0 0 0 Yost 3 2 1 1 Errecart 1 1 1 0 Richardson 3 0 1 1 Swaydan 1 0 0 0 De La Rosa 2 0 0 0 Hopf 2 0 1 0 Mojica 2 0 1 1 Metcalf 2 0 0 0 2B: Errecart, Richardson 3B: Cain 2, Gillespie, Yost IP H R ER BB SO TP McClendon 3 1 1 0 1 1 Ferguson 2 1 3 3 1 1 Renkert 2 0 0 0 0 2 Shanks 2 4 3 3 2 1 West Virginia wins, 5-3 R H E Wisconsin 3 10 5 West Virginia 5 9 1 WEST VIRGINIA AB R H BI Ford 4 0 1 0 Brantley 4 0 1 1 Caufield 3 0 0 0 Lefave 3 0 1 0 Alonso 2 0 0 0 Brewer 2 2 1 1 McKnight 1 0 0 0 Chapman 4 1 2 1 Newton 2 1 0 0 McAngus 1 0 1 0 Snijders 1 0 0 0 Neyens 1 1 1 0 Green 2 0 0 0 Holmberg 2 0 1 0 Miller 1 0 0 0 2B: Chapman HR: Brewer IP H R ER BB SO TP Ramlow 4 3 0 0 0 2 39 Periard 2 4 2 0 1 1 35 Parillo 1 1 0 0 0 0 17 Seidel 1 1 1 1 0 1 18 Aguilar 1 1 0 0 1 1 23 Notes -- we're working on finding out who "D. Rogers" is in the Huntsville pitching line, perhaps a misprint; 1B Grant Richardson, sidelined with a bad shoulder all last season, active in both weekend games; something about games involving High Desert -- four triples!; impressive four innings from 6'6" LHP Mike Ramlow; RHP Omar Aguilar being groomed for late-inning work? Brent Brewer goes deep...

The Nationals released LHP Luis Martinez. Literally a couple of dozen or so of the players "signed" in the summary posts previously listed have been optioned or re-assigned to minor league camps with their respective organizations. A couple of weeks into the season, we'll have our usual "links for stats" alumni thread in place.

More independent league updates (years in Brewer organization in parentheses): INF Ralph Santana (2001-2003), traded from Sioux Falls of the American Association to Quebec of the Can-Am League. RHP Dan Reichert (2004), traded from Nashua (Can-Am) to Atlantic City (Can-Am), and finally to Lincoln (American Association). UT Elio Ayala (1998-2002) traded from Nashua (Can-Am) to Somerset (Atlantic League) RHP Nic Slack (2003-2005) cleared waivers from Kansas City (Northern League) and is now a free agent. C Clay Blevins (2004-2005) was released by Traverse City (Frontier League) UPDATE: RHP Matt Hammons (2003) traded from St. Paul (American Association) to New Jersey (Can-Am)

Fun Marlin blog entry on Wes Obermueller: www.fishstripes.com/story...62312/7836

No free webcast, but this is a TV game in local Milwaukee (WMLW Channel 41), and MLB.TV subscribers can pull up the video with their subscription. Link below will work once game begins: Gameday

Link: Huntsville Site Update on the Weekend Action on the AA Level It looks like the link should say "Jesse" Harper, not "Bo". Bo Hall, another potential Huntsville Star, pitched on Saturday, Harper Sunday. Nice to see LHP Jeff Housman back healthy as well...

Hopefully it will continue, but it looks like we may be getting some box-score type updates from the minor league spring training games. Now in the big picture, please keep in mind that these are about as meaningful as, well, as meaningful as the box scores should be from the very first day of minor league games -- not very. Still fun to see some names and numbers, and keep in mind that in many, many cases, these assignments don't reflect what final affiliate rosters will be. The following is from Saturday's first day of action, all against San Francisco affiliates -- included are pitch counts, which is neat. Nice to see LHP Sam Narron healthy, and nice outing for fellow southpaw Steve Garrison: Nashville ties, 2-2 NASHVILLE AB R H BI Moss 3 0 1 1 Ezi 1 0 0 0 Crabbe 3 0 0 0 Rodriguez 1 0 0 0 Miller 2 0 0 0 Palmisano 1 0 0 0 Abad 3 0 1 0 Villanueva 0 1 0 0 Eure 2 0 1 0 Nelson 3 0 1 0 Davenport 1 0 0 0 Meadows 2 0 0 0 Barnwell 4 1 3 0 Perez 2 0 1 0 Kuzmic 2 0 0 0 2B: Moss IP H R ER BB SO TP Villanueva 4.2 3 0 0 1 4 77 DiFelice 2.1 2 0 0 0 1 34 Bradley 1.2 2 2 2 1 0 37 Salas 0.1 0 0 0 0 1 5 Huntsville loses, 4-2 HUNTSVILLE AB R H BI Stocker 4 0 1 0 Escobar 3 1 1 0 Barba 1 0 0 0 Heether 3 0 0 0 De La Cruz 0 0 0 0 Katin 4 0 1 1 Carlin 4 0 1 1 Yoho 4 0 1 0 Sollmann 2 0 2 0 Bernal 2 0 0 0 Corporan 2 0 0 0 Bouchie 2 0 0 0 Huggins 3 1 0 0 2B: Sollmann, Carlin IP H R ER BB SO TP Narron 3 4 1 1 1 2 47 Miller 2 2 1 0 1 1 32 Hall 1 0 0 0 2 1 15 Housman 1 0 0 0 1 1 16 Johnson 1 2 1 1 0 1 9 Brevard loses, 3-2 BREVARD CO AB R H BI Fermaint 3 0 0 0 Parejo 2 0 0 0 Crew 3 1 1 0 Bell 1 0 0 0 Cain 3 0 1 0 Gamel 3 0 1 1 Metcalf 1 0 0 0 Gillespie 3 0 2 1 Errecart 3 0 0 0 Yost 1 0 0 0 Richardson 2 0 0 0 De La Rosa 1 0 0 0 Swaydan 4 0 1 0 Mojica 3 0 0 0 2B: Gamel, Gillespie, Swaydan IP H R ER BB SO TP Garrison 3.2 0 0 0 1 3 45 Palazzolo 1.1 1 0 0 1 3 28 Baker 1 3 1 1 0 1 23 Roberts 2 3 2 2 0 2 27 West Virginia loses, 8-5 WEST VIRGINIA AB R H BI Ford 2 0 0 0 Brantley 4 0 1 0 Caufield 3 1 1 0 Alonso 3 0 1 0 Lefave 1 0 0 0 Chapman 4 0 1 1 Holmberg 3 0 0 0 Green 1 0 0 0 McAngus 1 1 0 0 Newton 2 0 0 0 Snijders 2 1 1 2 Neyens 2 1 1 0 McKnight 2 0 0 0 Brewer 2 1 1 0 Miller 1 0 0 0 HR: Snijders IP H R ER BB SO TP Braddock 3 2 2 1 0 2 33 Lidyard 2 4 5 5 1 2 35 Garcia 1 2 1 1 0 1 16 James 1 0 0 0 1 0 10 Romero 1 1 0 0 0 2 15 Langille 1 0 0 0 0 2 12

Link: Tacoma (AAA Mariners) 14, Nashville 6 at Peoria RHP's Tim Dillard and R.A. Dickey rocked (the knuckle-balling Dickey allowed 12 hits in two innings); Ron Davenport, Jeff Eure, and Steve Moss with multi-hit games...

This blurb from the Boston Globe, bold added by me: Al Nipper, who is scouting pitchers for general manager Theo Epstein, has been spotted in Astros camp, and also in Brewers camp, where several teams are looking at erratic reliever Derrick Turnbow Now who puts out the word on availability? Gotta be a reason...

Resurrecting an old thread from December -- thanks to the ever-more-helpful series of Brewer blogs to help spread the word (thewisconsinsportsbar, brewcrewball, Al): sports.yahoo.com/mlb/blog...=mlb,26791 I'm confused about what to make of this, but be tough, Doug, be tough.

Closed, already started...

Link: Fresno (AAA Giants) 2, Nashville 2, (tie) at Maryvale Keep in mind that just because you see names associated with the AAA squad (such as Steve Moss), does not necessarily indicate you'll see that player in AAA to begin the season...

Gameday Audio with Bob and Jim on WTMJ and online (with subscription) via MLB.com Sheets strands a runner at 3rd in the 1st; day off for Bill Hall

No free audio today, if you're a subscriber, you've got the Brewers site for Bob and Jim...

Gameday so you can catch up -- wow, Jim Skaalen! (Hint -- he's the new hitting coach...) mlb.mlb.com/mlb/gameday/y...;brand=mlb

We'll post info here when available. Nashville's schedule, games start today (the 17th), there are also AA games played, which are normally against the same organization, but in the opposing ballpark. The complete spring schedule follows (all games start at 1 p.m. Arizona time): Date Opponent Site (City) Saturday, March 17 Fresno Grizzlies (Giants) Maryvale Baseball Park (Phoenix) Sunday, March 18 Tacoma Rainiers (Mariners) Peoria Sports Complex (Peoria) Monday, March 19 Portland Beavers (Padres) Peoria Sports Complex (Peoria) Tuesday, March 20 Portland Beavers Maryvale Baseball Park (Phoenix) Wednesday, March 21 Tacoma Rainiers Maryvale Baseball Park (Phoenix) Thursday, March 22 Camp Day (Intrasquad) Maryvale Baseball Park (Phoenix) Friday, March 23 Salt Lake Stingers (Angels) Maryvale Baseball Park (Phoenix) Saturday, March 24 Iowa Cubs (Cubs) Fitch Park (Mesa) Sunday, March 25 Tacoma Rainiers Peoria Sports Complex (Peoria) Monday, March 26 Omaha Royals (Royals) Maryvale Baseball Park (Phoenix) Tuesday, March 27 Sacramento River Cats (A?s) Papago Park (Phoenix) Wednesday, March 28 Portland Beavers Maryvale Baseball Park (Phoenix) Thursday, March 29 Camp Day (Intrasquad) Maryvale Baseball Park (Phoenix) Friday, March 30 Tacoma Rainiers Peoria Sports Complex (Peoria) Saturday, March 31 Portland Beavers Peoria Sports Complex (Peoria) Sunday, April 1 Camp Day (Intrasquad) Maryvale Baseball Park (Phoenix)